By Kaiya Marjoribanks

Copyright dailyrecord

Stirling Council’s late leader and longest serving councillor has been posthumously shortlisted for a top national honour. Bannockburn and Eastern Villages Ward member Margaret Brisley served as a Labour councillor for 44 years before becoming Council Leader in September 2024 – just weeks before her death in October of that year at the age of 79. She had also served as Deputy Leader since 2022 and was also a former Provost. She was often regarded as a steadying hand, having garnered a wealth of experience since first being elected to the former Stirling District Council in 1980. Outside of politics she was described by her family as “the most wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, auntie and wise sage to all her family and friends” and “the most loving, generous, selfless and passionate socialist advocate for equality we will ever know”. As the anniversary of her death approaches, however, she is one of four councillors shortlisted for a Lifetime Legend award in the 2025 LGIU and CCLA Councillor Awards. This category celebrates a councillor who has dedicated 15 or more years to serving their local community through their role on the council, maintaining their passion and enthusiasm for improving the lives of their residents. It recognises their positive and lasting contributions through a long-term focus on a particular issue, the cumulative effect of many smaller projects, or both. Directly following Cllr Brisley’s death tributes had flooded in from across the political spectrum. Among her Labour colleagues to pay tribute was Stirling and Strathallan MP Chris Kane – from whom Cllr Brisley took over the top job at the council – who described her as a “champion” for her ward and “a trailblazer for women in local politics” as well as a mentor and a passionate advocate for local government. Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area. Cllr Gerry McGarvey, who took over as council leader following her death, said the fact she was returned as a councillor in each of the 11 elections she stood in was testament to the dedication and hard work she undertook on behalf of her constituents and that she “commanded the utmost respect from senior officers and elected members from across the political spectrum”. A retired teacher, Cllr Brisley was particularly passionate about children’s services and was a former convener of the Children & Young People Committee. In the often turbulent world of politics, however, she drew respect from across the spectrum. Conservative Stirling Council Group Leader, Cllr Neil Benny, described her as “a force of nature, a long standing servant of her community – and of Stirling” and said she “represented a tradition of local politics which put the people of Stirling first and transcended the narrow party politics we have grown used to these days”. He added: “I first met Margaret 18 years ago and, as a new councillor, she was a mentor to me and to many others over the years. Even when she was pointing out where I was wrong, she was supportive and never chiding. She was generous and kind.” SNP Stirling Council Group Leader, Cllr Scott Farmer, added: “Margaret was a formidable politician. She was a colleague and a friend and her passing is so terribly sad. She made such a tremendous contribution to her local community, as well as the wider Stirling electorate.” Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said: “Margaret Brisley’s contribution to public life in the Stirling area cannot be overstated.” At the close of 2024 tribute was also paid within the council chambers, with Cllr McGarvey saying he had listened to “countless people share countless stories of countless occasions where Margaret made a difference to theirs, their families’ and their communities’ lives, often quietly and without fuss or fanfare”. “The golden thread running through Margaret’s life is her commitment and dedication to making a difference – and make a difference she did, to which we can bear witness. And to my mind no better legacy can any person, and especially a politician, aspire.” Cllr Benny said: “She would always try to get you to agree with her, even after she’d won the argument and the debate and won the vote. But she wanted to get people on side and that’s the true mark of a fantastic politician, even one I wouldn’t necessarily have the same opinion with at times.” Independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson described her as “very supportive, a great woman, very compassionate and politically I did learn a lot from her”. Forty local councillors from across England, Wales and Scotland have been shortlisted across five categories, whittled down from 400 nominations. Now in their 16th year in England and 8th year in Scotland, the Cllr Awards are said to highlight the contribution of councillor, from championing residents’ interests to leading innovation in public services. Winners in Scotland will be revealed on Wednesday November 5 at Glasgow City Chambers. The Cllr Awards judging panels comprise senior councillors and leading stakeholders from across the sector.